James macfadden gaston



PatentedJuIie 16, 1885.

MOTOR.

J. M. GASTON.

I M m M m (No Model.) I

N. Prrzns, mmuma w, Washington, D c.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES MACFADDEN GASTON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,970, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed August 13, 1884.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES MAOFADDEN GASTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Motors by the Power of Nitro-Glycerine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, accompanied with drawings of the same.

I will describe the invention as applied to a flying-machine, though I do not limit its use thereto.

The force employed is the result of the alter nate explosion of small cartridges of gelatinous nitro-glycerine in each end of the cylinder, so as to drive the piston back and forth at regular intervals. A limited open space between the end Wall of the cylinder and the plug'of the piston provides for the partial compression of the atmosphere in this space so as to form an air-cushion, which obviates any shock from the play of the piston within its prescribed limits. There are two orifices in the lateral wall of the cylinder, which are closed and opened alternately by a slide moving with the piston-rod, so as to retain the force of the explosion within the chamber when it occurs, and to admit of the escape of air or gases on the other side as the piston advances.

The discharge of the cartridge at either extremity of the cylinder is effected upon the same principle as that of the needle-gun, the impulse to the exploder being communicated by the contact of the slide in consequential that its margin shall overlap that of the cylin-.

movements with the piston-rod.

The charging apparatus consists of a disk corresponding in its diameter to three-fourths (i) that of the end of the cylinder, placed so der, and revolving upon an axle attached to the side of the cylinder. Within the rim of this circular disk there are a series of openings to receive the cartridges on the side next or air-chamber, so that its walls constitute a hollow truncated cone. The cartridges, urged by the force of a spring, pass from the tube of (No model.)

the loader into the opening in the disk, and as each one arrives by a stage in the revolution of the disk opposite the orifice inthe end of the cylinder, the stroke of a hammer is so timed and applied that the percussion causes its explosion.

The automatic loader has a series of long tubes within a'cylindrical receiver, which are partially filled with cartridges. Each tube has a spring in the form of a helix compressed into the remote extremity,'which impels the cartridges forward, so that one is thrust into the opening in the circular disk at each step emptied, the release of the helix touches a springthat brings another tube into its proper position, and so the change is made until all are discharged. In the meantime the empty .made by it in its round. \Vhen one tube is tubes are replaced by others that are filled,

and the work goes on without intermission, from hour to hour or from day to day.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a horizontal central section. Fig. 2 is. an end elevation of the engine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a section of a portion. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the loading-tubes. Fig. 6 shows the exploding means cocked. Fig. 7 shows the same in the act of exploding a cartridge.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

It, is important for some uses that an engine be very strong, light, and efficient, and that the fuel and apparatus for supplying the pressure he of the smallest possible weight and bulk. The cylinder A lies horizontal. A piston-rod, B, extends out at each end of the cylinder, and is equipped. with two connecting-rods, B B, operating two cranks. Not represented.) This form is not absolutely essential, but is preferable. It gives the power directly to each of two upright shafts.

The explosive cartridges are brought into position one by one and exploded in small .holes a, properly arranged in each end of the oped by the explosions drive the pistons. Liberal ports, ac, are opened to allow the escape of the gases for the return-stroke; but those exhaust-ports are closed in time to at; tain a considerable cushioning of the gas at the end of the stroke. This is important in, regard to the effective power produced, and also in insuring, by means shown below, the tightness of the aperture where the cartridge is introduced.

Two long revolving frames, 0, are mounted with their axes parallel to that of themain cylinder, each adapted to receive a number of long thin tubes, 0, which are successive]y'filled by the attendant with cartridges 1) each composed in part or in whole of gelatinous nitroglycerine adapted to be ifired byz-asstrong con- 1 cussion. Extreme careshould ihe .takeniinathe manufacture and testi-ngiof the cartridges not 1 to have them liable to explode sbylsliight heats and concussions, as they may be subjected itsv such before the proper isolation :-and placing of each cartridge in position is effected. .A, spring, 07, urges axially theseriesiof'cartridges in-each tube 0.

Y A wheel or p'erfora'ted disk, N, isset at each end of the cylinder A, and slightly slapping upon its face, with perforations n, :anranged to "be presented in succession, first to one of the tubes 0 and receive acartrid'ge, .and gthenito 'the firing-holea in the main-cylinder. This hole beingsomewhat fsm'aller at the junction i securesthe capsule of the cartridgeitoibe-fined. 3 v

The open extremity *of each capsule shas iits rim turned -inward,presenting a circular border to the closed end of its successor in the tube, and the outlet-of each tube is :closed (by 1 a thin=circular plate moving upon :aihinge'd pivot at the outermargin andopened iby con-j tact with the edge of the revolving disk, so that-only theone tube-is open when an oppo-j sition with the-aperture in the disk. When all the cartridges in:a tube are discharged, the cylindrical frame is moved-one :notch farther round'byan automaticiratchet, orby o'ther suitablemeans,Qnotrepresented,)andpresents another tube with a fresh supply of oartridges. After the wheel or disk 1N has'ireeeived :a cartridge and turned-so as to move it out of 3 contact with its mates, it carries :it by 'one; ormoreintermittent movements into aip'osi tion directly opposite the fil ing-11018 a of the cylinder. ed by anabutment, A, on the side opposite the -cylinder,:so as to resist the violen'ceofithe discharge. The pressure of the air 'or gas'es within the cylinder being cnshioned byithe approach-,ofthe pistonStothisend of the cylinder, thusaecumulatingaconsiderablezpressure above that of the external za'tmosphere, holds the cartridge*outward:against'ltheiabutment, so as to tightly close a "small hole, e, therein. -In this condition of !the several parts a -fi1'ingpin,w, mounted in the abutment A, is driven inwardandstrikw a-sharp 'blow on the cartridge, suflicient to certainly explode it.

There the-disk isistronglysupport- The gases of the explosion hav- J ing no escape flow into that end of the cylinder and greatly increase the pressure above that to which it was already raised by the cushioning, and the piston is driven with force to the opposite end of the cylinder.

The two exhaust-ports a a are arranged, as shown, near the mid-length of the cylinder, controlled by the extended slide-valve D D, which is worked by rods 3 attached to the cross-heads. They connect to these rods with suffieient lost motion, so that both are opened in advance of the piston in either direction, butare closed behind it.

The firing-pins w are each subject to a slight coiled spring, w, which holds it gently back but ready to bezdriven inward and induce an explosionwhenstruck ibyzthe hammer 1'. Each hammer is :lnrng on :a .shaft, :1", carryinga V- shaped cam, r, and two divergent arms, a,

attached. The .rods 4/ canryidogs yi, which engage with the arms vi, and .as the piston travels in :each direetion'cock the hammer at one end and tip the hammer at the other-end alternately. r Y

The positions of the parts are soadjusted that the explosion at either end of the cylinder .A does not-ioccur'whi'lezthepiston is at the extreme :end of its-stroke, :but, loathe contrary,afterit has so zfarimoved aronnd=as-tobring the crank into ;an effective positionand allow a-considerable spaceinto which the explosion 1may difl'use1itself and th as moderatethe-foroe.

The cartridgesare preferably made with me- :tallic shells,'which .insureasuflicient strength to :enable them to :maintain .their forms under all ordinary conditions. They may have the iformof :the zpercussionicaps .used forsmallarms or for'oannons.

a: are spikes or pins carried 1011 the crossheads and arranged [to strike through the holes at in :the .disksNat'each stroke to insure the removal ofaanyshellworother debris which may remain after the explosion of the-leartridgie.

Modificationsnnay be madeiinrthe :formsand :proportionswithin wide limits without departing d'romthe pnincipleor sacrificing the advantages of the iinvention. Bartsof the invention may :beused without the whole.

I propose 'aslone modification ito -.useflat .wafers inclosed inpaper properly-made adhesive.

Additions :may :be :made. I can, ifzdesired, providermeans .for automatically shifting the positiomof ithe .revolvingframe 0 when the cartridgesfin a tuherare exhausted.

Iclaimrasuny invention-- 1. In aniengine.operatedbyexplosives, the combination of a revolving magazine 'haviing "exchangeable .cartridge-'holding tubes acylinder ehavingend :ports to :rsoeivethe products of aexplosion, .a revolving carrier adapted to receive 40118 cartridge at a time andmonvey it tosaid :cyllinder ports, .and means -for auto matically feeding the cartridges forward and for exploding them, as set forth.

2. In an engine operated by explosives, sub- IIO stantially as described, a cylinder, A, having end ports to receive the products of explosion and exhaust-ports a, located nearthe center, combined with aslide,D, and connections with the piston, whereby the said ports a are closed and disclosed automatically to exhaust the gases and to cushion the piston-stroke, as set forth.

3. In an engine, substantially as described, the combination, with the magazines, the carriers, and cylinder A, having ports a and a, of the piston, the slide D, the pins x, the firing mechanism, and connections, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an engine for operating by explosions, the carrier wheel or disk N, having cavities n, in combination with the cylinder A, having a scribing witnesses.

JAMES MACFADDEN GASTON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT L. RODGERS, JAMES M. BUFORD. 

